A stricter federal greenhouse gas emissions standard for new vehicles could unlock $21 billion in electric vehicle charging infrastructure investment across Canada by 2035, according to a new policy brief that also points to a much larger battery-electric fleet on the road — and, by extension, more EV repair work headed for shops.
The brief, released by the Canadian Charging Infrastructure Council (CCIC) and authored by Sharabura EV Infrastructure Advisors, compares two possible federal targets: a stringent standard of 59 grams per mile by 2035, versus a more lenient 115 grams per mile by 2032. Under the tougher standard, Canada would see more than 15 million battery-electric vehicles on the road by 2040, along with roughly 98,000 public direct-current fast-charging ports. The weaker target would produce just over nine million BEVs and about 59,100 fast-charging ports over the same period.
The investment gap between the two scenarios is significant: the stronger standard would draw $21 billion in charging investment, compared with $14 billion under the weaker one, with between 50 and 65 per cent of that spending flowing to local electrical and civil trades, suppliers and utilities. The brief says a tighter standard would translate directly into more investment in charging infrastructure.
Ottawa, through Environment and Climate Change Canada, has not yet settled on which emissions standard it will adopt, and no timeline has been given for a decision.
For collision and mechanical shops, the scale of the difference matters. A market approaching 15 million BEVs by 2040 implies a far larger share of high-voltage vehicles cycling through repair bays than a slower-growth scenario would, adding urgency to investments in EV-certified technicians, charging access at shop locations and diagnostic tools built for battery-electric platforms.
